Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday, August 11, 2024. This came after Obaidul Hassan stepped down as the top judge in response to demands from protesters seeking a reform of the judiciary.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime amidst widespread street protests, Mr. Hassan and five other judges of the apex Appellate Division tendered their resignations on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Protesters from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered at the apex court premises, issuing an ultimatum for the judges to resign by 1 p.m. Mr. Ahmed took the oath as the new Chief Justice during a ceremony at the Darbar Hall of the president’s official residence around 12:45 p.m. local time, as reported by The Daily Star.
Watch: New regime in Bangladesh | Lessons for India & South Asia
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the Chief Justice, with the ceremony conducted by Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, who was sworn in as the head of an interim government on August 8, 2024, following Ms. Hasina’s ouster, also attended the event.
On August 10, 2024, President Shahabuddin appointed Justice Ahmed as the 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
Amidst new protests by students and demonstrators, several top officials in Bangladesh, including Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Maksud Kamal and Bangla Academy Director General Professor Dr. Md Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, resigned from their positions.
